diff --git a/softmmu/vl.c b/softmmu/vl.c
index 5115221efe..ce88869618 100644
--- a/softmmu/vl.c
+++ b/softmmu/vl.c
@@ -2321,6 +2321,10 @@ static void qemu_validate_options(const QDict *machine_opts)
           }
     }
 
+    if (loadvm && incoming) {
+        error_report("'incoming' and 'loadvm' options are mutually exclusive");
+        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+    }
     if (loadvm && preconfig_requested) {
         error_report("'preconfig' and 'loadvm' options are "
                      "mutually exclusive");